Yarn-finger mechanism for knitting-machines.



F. E. JGNES.

YARN FINGER MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4. I914,

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

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' ream: E. Jones, on PAWTUCKET, nnonn ISLAND, ASSIGNOR T HEMPHILL' MANU-FACTURING- COMPANY, OF PAW'I'UCKET, RHODE ISLAND.

YARN-FINGER MECHANISM FOR KNITTING-MACHINES.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, FRANK E. J ones, citizenof the United States, residing at Pawtucket, Rhode Island, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Yarn- Finger Mechanism forKnitting-Machines,

. of :which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to yarn finger mechanism, and is shown inconnection with a knitting machine of the general type known as theBanner, though it will be understood that the invention is not confinedto its use or combination with a machineof this particular ma n.

The invention concerns particularly a spring arrangement for pressingthe yarn fingers downwardly to their operative position, one object ofthe invention being to provide a unit which will serve a number of yarnfingers and may be applied to or removed from the machine as one body orunit so that by simply attaching this unit in place each yarn fingerwill have the necessary spring tension appliedthereto for moving it tooperative position when the controlling or operating lever permits thespring'to act.

Another object of the invention is to provide individual springs for theyarn fingers which will be certain in action and durable in use.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the followingdescription.

, In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is aside view of so much of aknitting head with the inventionapplied thereto as is nec-' essary-to aclear understanding of the construction and relation of my invention tothe yarn fingers and knitting head; Fig. 2 shows the spring unitdetached from the machine; Fig. 3 is afront view of Fig. 2 looking fromthe left of said figure; Fig. 4: is a plan view of the spring unit withthe cover plate removed; Fig. 5 is a side view of one of the plungerswith its spring; Fig. 6 is a front view of the upper part of the post orstandard in which the yarn finger operating lovers are mounted; Fig. 7is a detail view of the link connection. between the operating lovers ofthe yarn fingers and the pattern drum. 7

' 'lnmachines of .thegeneral type known as the Banner, :1 group of yarnfingers is employed pivotally mounted at the same Patented Apr. 2%,1911.5.

' Application filed June 4., 1914. Serial No. 843,051.

point in relation to the knitting head, and

in the particular construction shown wherein a latch ring 1 is employedthe yarn fingers of the group are pivoted on a. pin 2 held in ears, oneof which is shown at 3, eX- tending up fIOHl'lZllQ latch ring.

In Fig. 1 one of the yarn fingers, as indicated at4, is shown in itselevated. or inoperative position, and at 4 one of the arm fingers isshown in dotted lines in its lowered or operative position, that is, inposition to feed the yarn'to the needles. Each yarn finger has a tailportion 5, and heretofore it has been customary to provide a leaf springfor each yarn finger, these springs being attached to the rear portionof the latch ring. and extending upwardly to bear on the tail portions 5to press the yarn fingers downwardly. These leaf springs, however, beingsubjected to much vibration due to the raising and lowering of the yarnfingers, have beeniound objectionable because of breakage and loss ofpower. Directly connected spiral springs of the pull variety have alsobeen employed, but these have been found inefficient, and my object isto provide an arrangement which will be efficient in use, readilyapplied and removed one body, and by which, when in proper position,each yarn finger will have its iii-- dividnal spring combined therewith.

In carrying out my invention, 1 provide a casing 6 having a downwardlyextending portion 7 attached by screws 8 to the side of th'e'latch ring,the main portion of this ca ing inclining downwardly and laterally, andserving as a housing for the spring members which individually pressupon the tail portions of the yarn fingers. lhese spring members consistof plungers 9, one for each yarn finger, said plungers consist ing offiat bars set up on edge and moving in straight'slots or ways 10 formedin the block or frame 6 parallel with. each other and from end to end.The plungers have portions at 10 reaching from. the bottoms of theseways or slots to the upper surface of the block, and by securing thecover plate 11 in place the several plnngers are confined and accuratelyguided in their movement.

The forward ends of the plungers are rounded, and bear upon the tailportions v5 of the yarn fingers, and they are pressed into this positionby springs 12, one for each atthe upper end of istandardfih) plunger,said springs being located in pockets'13 extending along the guideways10 from the front end of the casin to the point it, where a shoulder isforms to rovide a seat for the spiral springs; he plungers 9 arerecessed or cut away, as shown at 15, between the upstanding parts 10',and the springs lie in these recesses or cutaway portions of theplungers. They bear upon the forward upstanding portion 10, and thusserve to press the plungers forwardly, In other words, the springs bearupon the shoulders 14 in the frame or block 6 at one end, and uponv theforward upstanding portion 10 of the plungers at their other ends, itbeing understood that the bores or pockets 13 extend clear to the frontface of the block or frame 6. The springs are maintained in connectionwith the'plungers, should any of these be re moved, by a rod or pin 16held by the rear portion of the plunger and extending longitudinallywithin the spiral spring. The front ends of the plungers are suitablybent, as shown in Fig. 4, to bear upon the particular yarn finger towhich they belong. The yarn fingers are raised to inoperative positionby a group of levers one of which, bein shown in its lowered positiouat17 in ful lines, allows its yarn fin or to assume the position shown at4, an at 17' one of the operating levers is shown in its elevated po-.

sitlon to raise its yarn finger up, asshown at 4:. v When any yarnfinger is raised its tail portion 5 havin a camming action against therounded on of the plunger, will force this plunger rearwardly againstthe action of the spring which is under compression, and this plungerwill therefore slide in its guidewayof the block 6 for this compressingaction. When the operating lever is lowered, the compression spring willrelax, and force its plunger forwardly, and this, acting 'ainst tne tailpiece of the yarn finger, will move the same down to operative position.Any or all of the plungers may be removed Without taking the block.t'rom the machine by removing the cover 11. D By removing the book fromthe machine the whole spring mechanism is moved as one unit, togetherwith the plungers, and then any one or all of the plungers may beremoved from the block, together with the springs, bysim ly sliding theplunger or lungers forwar ly. Notwithstanding the act that the plungerguide grooves extend through from end to .end of the block, theseplungers will be prevented from being removed from the block toward therear or falling out by the springs bearing on the shoulders at 14 at oneend, and upon the plungers at their other ends. The yarn finger liftinglevers 37 are pivotally mounted at 18, and for guiding th n l provideacomb plate at hold in held in this position by the screv. 21. Thelifting levers areoperated by lll l, one of wh ichis shown at 22,pivoted on a flanged button 23 held by a screw 24: passing through thebutton and into the lever. This link is made in two parts, the part 22'having a threaded socket to receive the threaded end of the art 22, andby removing the screw 24 and thus detaching the link from its lever 17the length of the link may be adjusted by simpl giving the portion 22one or more turns an attaching it again to the lever 17. nected at 25 toa lever 26 operated by a pattern drum. It will be seen that the springdevice is self-contained, consisting of one unit, and includingindividually mov-- able plungers controlled by compression springs forapplying the necessary pressure to the yarn fingers.

Fig. 2 illustrates the unitary character of my device, this beingdetached from the machine and carrying all of the plungers with theirsprings.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination a series of pivoted yarn fingers having tail ortionson the opposite side of the pivots rom their main portion, lifting meanstherefor, a series of plungers bearing upon the tail portions of theyarn fingers, and springs for operating the plungels, said lifting meanseing independent of the plungers and compression springs, substantiallyas described.

2. In combination a series of pivoted yarn fingers having tail portions,lifting means therefor, a series of plungers bearing upon the tailportions of the yarn fin ers, springs for operating the plungers, andsupporting means carrying the plungcrs and sprin s The link at its lowerend is conand constituting therewith a unit detachab y secured to themachine, substantially as described.

3. In combination a series of pivoted yarn fingers having upwardlyextending tail portions on the opposite side of their pivots from theirmain portions, lifting means, a series of plungers slidably mounted ininclined position and bearing on the said tail portions, and springsacting on the plungers,

said lifting means acting on the main ortions of the yarn fingers andindepen ent of the plungers and compression springs, substantially asdescribed.

4. In combination a series of pivoted yarn fingers, lifting meanstherefor, a series of plungers, a box carrying said lungers and havingguideways therefor, an pockets for springs, springs in said pockets,said plungcrs having recesses in which the springs are lOCfll'Bd/Wlllllone end bearing on the bottom of the pocket and the other end bearing onthe plunger, said plunger projecting into engagement with the tailportions of the yarn fingers, substmtially as described.

5'. ln'cenibi'nation Yarn fingers having tail portions and pivotal ymounted, a series of slidable plungers, a box arranged in inclinedposition and having guides for the plun- 5 gers; springs pocketed in thebox and engagstituting one nnitdet ach'ahly mountec )II the machine,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, l-afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' FRANK E. JONES.

Witnesses: v

JOHN LAWSON, GEORGE P. Boswon'rn.

